Plastic surgeon’s advertising ploy under fire

JUNIOR Health Minister Tim O’Malley yesterday condemned the manner in which New York plastic surgeon Dr Michael Sachs was able to advertise his services in this country to attract patients.

Limerick mother of two young boys, Kay Cregan, aged 42, died after undergoing a facelift in his New York clinic.

She found out about Dr Sachs after reading a newspaper article in which he was featured. A Co Carlow woman agreed to be the subject of a Sunday newspaper feature after Dr Sachs offered her a free facelift which would have cost in excess of €20,000.

Mr O’Malley condemned this offer by Dr Sachs of free treatment in order to publicise himself in this country.

“It is unprofessional and totally unethical, but unfortunately very hard to stop. If a surgeon is that good in the US, why would he be coming to Ireland looking for business? It is totally wrong and nobody could stand over that kind of advertising. This is something I would abhor,” he said.

And Defence Minister Willie O’Dea said doctors from outside the EU offering services to European citizens should have to make a declaration about any lawsuits taken against them.

Dr Sachs had paid 34 settlements or judgments over the past 10 years in New York.

It also emerged after Ms Cregan’s death, that Dr Sachs had his medical licence put on probation and was required to take a refresher course.

He was permanently banned from carrying out complicated nose surgery without having another surgeon present.

Mr O’Dea said that under the new Services Directive being discussed by the EU Commission, doctors and others working in a EU state offering services within the EU will have to make detailed declarations about their performance record.

“The purpose is to enable a citizen of the EU requiring a certain service to make an informed decision on the particular service being offered. If a problem arises, and it is found that the service provider has not given a full and frank declaration under the proposed Services Directive, then it will be an open and shut case if and when legal action is taken,” he said.

He said the EU Commission was now working on a redraft of the Services Directive.

“I think the EU commission should look at including those from outside the EU being brought within the Services Directive and be obliged to make all relevant disclosures about themselves and their service in order to protect EU citizens.

“There should be some duty of disclosure about themselves,” Mr O’Dea said.

Ms Cregan’s family said she would never have gone if she had been made aware of the number of legal cases taken against Dr Sachs in New York.

Ms Cregan’s sister Agnes Kelly said: “We’re seeing all this stuff on him and it’s just killing us.”

Mrs Cregan went under anaesthetic in Dr Sachs’s New York office on March 14 and underwent nearly three hours of surgery.

Early the following morning complications developed and she was rushed to St Luke’s Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan where she was put on a life support machine which was turned off on St Patrick’s Day in the presence of her husband Liam and other family members.